We are sitting in sunny California, trying to get into the holiday spirit. It hard when the skies are blue, and temperatures are in the 70’s. I know I shouldn’t be complaining. This time of the year, I want to see flakes of snow outside my office window, and a big cup of hot cocoa …
Bread
A savory scone is the perfect companion to a big bowl of soup on a cold wintery day. This scone is flavor with buttermilk, parmesan cheese and fresh cracked pepper; creamy, slightly nutty and spicy.
Hot Cross Buns are a yeast bun that is traditionally served on Good Friday, except in our house, it is served Easter Morning with steaming cups of coffee. Hot Cross Buns are always marked with a cross which is representation of Christ. Superstition says that Hot Cross Buns baked on Good Friday will not mold and that one bun should be kept until next years buns are baked; they never last that long in our house!
Challah also known as hallah or challot is a traditional braided bread eaten during Sabbath and other Jewish holidays. Jewish tradition, Sabbath and holiday meals begin with a blessing over four loaves of bread, two on Friday night and two on Saturday afternoon.
We are having a bi-coastal holiday season this year. Lenny is on the East Coast with his family, and I am on the West Coast with mine. This is the first Christmas in four years, that we have not spent it together. While it is wonderful being with our families, the distance during the holidays …
I am all over this Daring Baker Challenge. Our hosts this month, are Shel of Musings from the Fish Bowland, and Natalie of Gluten A Go-Go. They are vegan as well as gluten-free and their pick this month are these homemade crackers from Peter Reinhart’s The Bread Baker’s Apprentice. The only other thing we had to …